Index-feed machining system

Abstract

An index-feed machining system having a pilot machining device for sequentially forming pilot portions on a workpiece indexed at predetermined pitches, a pilot guide means engaging with the pilot portions, and a plurality of independent machining means corresponding to a plurality of machining processes; all of these means being sequentially disposed in the feeding direction of workpiece; in which the pilot machining means and the pilot guide means are constructed integrally. The index-feed machining system lends itself to the easy positioning of machining means, and to the manufacture of high-precision products.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for machining a workpiece, the apparatus comprising: means for indexing the workpiece at predetermined pitches;   pilot means for sequentially providing pilot portions on the workpiece;   pilot guide means integrally formed with said pilot means and for engaging with said pilot portions;   a base plate defining a dovetail groove in a feeding direction, said base plate also including a threaded shaft fixedly fitted to said base plate in a direction parallel with said dovetail groove;   a plurality of independent machining means for performing a corresponding plurality of machining processes being sequentially performed in accordance with said indexing of the workpiece and using said pilot portions as references, each of said plurality of machining means including a dovetail engaged with said dovetail of said base plate, said machining means being movably and positionably guided by said dovetail groove, said each of said plurality of machining means including a driving spiral gear rotatably fitted to said each of said plurality of machine means;   a plurality of driven spiral gears threadably engaged with said threaded shaft, one of each of said plurality of driven spiral gear meshing with one of said driving spiral gears, said plurality of machining means including connection means for independently moving said each of said plurality of machining means with said driven spiral gear as said each of said driven spiral gears move along said threaded shaft, said driven spiral gears moving along said threaded shaft by rotating about said threaded shaft, and said driving spiral gear rotating said driven spiral gear.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein: one of said machining means is a press machine having a long ram; said machining means being installed on said base plate by such a means that said machining means can be moved and positioned while guided with said dovetail groove; and machining operations corresponding to said machining processes are sequentially performed by driving said press machine in accordance with the indexing feed of said workpiece and pushing moving parts of said machining means with the ram of said press machine. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein a bottom dead point adjusting means for adjusting the bottom dead point of a moving part of each of said machining means is provide, said adjusting means protrudes at a position selected from the group consisting of a mounting position on the lower surface of said ram, and a mounting position on the upper surface of the moving part of each of said machining means, said adjusting means having a protruded length thereof being adapted to be adjustable. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said machining means comprise punch-die sets. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: a main machining line is constructed by sequentially providing said plurality of machining means at intervals of mP m  (m being a given positive integer, P m  being an indexing pitch of a workpiece) in said feeding direction of the workpiece; one auxiliary machining line intersecting said main machining line and constructed by sequentially providing a plurality of auxiliary machining means at intervals of nP n  (n being a given positive integer, P n  being an indexing pitch of another workpiece) in a longitudinal feeding direction of another workpiece; and the apparatus for machining a workpiece is constructed as a multi-line apparatus by forming said auxiliary machining line in such a manner as to be movable and adjustable in parallel with the feeding direction of said main machining line, index-feed machining a plurality of component members, and assembling said component members at a position where said main machining line intersects with said auxiliary machining line. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5, further comprising: another auxiliary machining line intersecting with one of said auxiliary machining means and constructed by sequentially providing a plurality of another auxiliary machining means at intervals of sP s  (s being a given positive integer, P s  being an indexing pitch of still another workpiece) in a feeding direction of still another strip-shaped workpiece; said one of said auxiliary machining means being constructed by forming said auxiliary machine line in such a manner as to be movable and adjustable in parallel with the feeding direction of said main machining line, index-feed machining a plurality of component members, and assembling said component members at a position where said machining line intersects with said auxiliary machining line, and at a position where said auxiliary machining lines intersects with each other. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein: said plurality of machining means are provided in such a manner as to be movable and adjustable on a plate, said plate including on the bottom surface thereof a ridge extending in a direction intersecting with the feeding direction of the workpiece, said plate is placed on an auxiliary base plate on which a plurality of guide grooves are provided in a mutually intersecting manner in a matrix pattern, and said ridge is slidably engaged with one of said guide grooves so that said plate can be moved and adjusted. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein a passage for permitting the workpiece to pass is provided by passing through one of said machining means provided at a position where machining lines intersect with each other. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said each of said machining means includes an independent driving means and pilot pins engaging with said pilot portions, said each of said machining means separately performing one of said machining processes on a unit of the workpiece, said machining processes being sequentially performed with said each of said machining means for each unit while pilot pins of said each of said machining means sequentially engage with corresponding pilot portions, said each of said machining means separately having corresponding said pilot pins engaging with the workpiece at separate times.   
     
     
       10. An apparatus for machining a workpiece, the apparatus comprising: means for indexing the workpiece at predetermined pitches;   pilot means for sequentially providing pilot portions on the workpiece;   pilot guide means integrally formed with said pilot means and for engaging with said pilot portions;   a base plate defining a dovetail groove in a feeding direction, said base plate also including a threaded shaft fixedly fitted to said base plate in a direction parallel with said dovetail groove;   a plurality of independent machining means for performing a corresponding plurality of machining processes being sequentially performed in accordance with said indexing of the workpiece and using said pilot portions as references, each of said plurality of machining means including a dovetail engaged with said dovetail of said base plate, said machining means being movably and positionably guided by said dovetail groove, said each of said plurality of machining means including a rotatable driving spiral gear corresponding to said each of said plurality of machine means, each of said plurality of machine means including a female thread threadably engaged with said threaded shaft, each of said female threads being driven by one of said driving spiral gears, said each of said plurality of machining means including connection means connected to one of said driving spiral gears for independently moving said each of said plurality of machining means with said female thread as said each female thread moves along said threaded shaft, said female thread moving along said threaded shaft by relative rotation between said female thread and said threaded shaft, said driving spiral gear driving said female thread.